At the White House, A Focus on the Economy

Put simply, I created this board to enlist voices to come from beyond the Washington echo chamber, to ensure that no stone is unturned as we work to put people back to work and get our economy moving.

Within this group, you’ve got leaders of manufacturing and leaders of finance. You’ve got labor and you’ve got management. You’ve got people who work in small businesses and people who work in large businesses. You’ve got some economists and some folks who think they’re economists. (Laughter.) By the way, these days everybody thinks they’re an economist. (Laughter.) We will meet regularly so that I can hear different ideas and sharpen my own, and seek counsel that is candid and informed by the wider world.

On the manufacturing side, Jeffrey R. Immelt, CEO of General Electric, and Jim Owens, Chairman and CEO, Caterpillar Inc.